Splint



Apr i935, F. n. SAEMANN Er AL 3999779@ 'SPLINT Filed Jan. 6, 1933 2 SheeitS-Shel l A @JWM/@hgh Wwf/AWM Apr 9, 1935. F. l, SAEMNN ET AL, I g

SPLINT l Filed Jan. 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1935 NlTED STATES eArsr orties SPLINT Mfg. Co., Chicago, lll.

Application January 6,

Claims.

The present invention relates to splints oi' the type illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 1,196,887, dated September 5, 1916, and has for its object to improve the same and the functions thereof.

Ordinarily the bones of fractured legs cannot be set until the swelling induced by the fracture has subsided. One of the objects of the present invention is so to improve the splint oi the aforesaid patent or other extensible leg splints, as to make it possible to set broken 'bones without waiting for the swelling tosubside and without causing undue discomfort to the patient.

A further object of the present invention is to i equalize the traction between the ankle and a part of the leg higher up when the pull or traction on the leg is divided between these two points.

A further object of the present invention is to insure that the pull on the leg, in'securing traction and counter-traction, is yieldable.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a simple and novel splint that provides constant traction not only when the patient is resting but when he is walking about on the splint.

Viewed in another of its aspects, the present invention may be said to havefor its object to pro duce a simple and novel splint to be applied in the case of a fracture of a leg or thigh, the same being provided with means for exerting constant yielding traction and counter-traction and automatically taking up any slack which would otherwise occur.

Viewed in another aspect, the present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel splint of the character specined, in which there is provided an indicating device which shows at all times thedegree of traction and counter traction.

A further object of the present invention is to make it possible quickly and easily to lengthen and shorten a splint by electric motor means, whereby a desired amount of traction may be quickly obtained through a uniform pull and whereby, further, it becomes a simple matter to produce spasmodic traction.

The various features of novelty whereby our invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of the invention and of its objects and advantages, including the fore-'- going objects and others, reference may be had` to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

, a corporation of Illinois 1933, Serial No. 650,376

(Cl. 12S-85) ent 1,196,887; Fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale than Fig. 1 showing the manner of, detachably fastening the bracket of a hip joint attachment to the main posts or columns of the splint; Fig. i

is a view, partly in section, on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and partly in elevation; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lower end of one of the columns or posts, showing the vgraduations which indicate the amount of pull or traction at any given time; Fig. 6 is a section, on the same scale as Figs. 3 and 4, on line 6-5 of Fig. 1; and Figs. '7 and 8 are longitudinal sections, in planes at right angles toeach other, through the lower end of the splint.

The main portion of the splint shown in the drawings comprises four long extensible rods or posts on the upper end of which is a seat cushion l and on the lower end of which is a foot plate 2. Each rod or post is made of two telescoped tubes 3 and 4. Within each of the tubes il is a long rod 5 rotatable in the tube but held against lengthwise movement relatively thereto. v The upper end of each rod is screw-threaded, as indicated at 6, the screw threads on the rod meshing with internal screw 'threads 'l in the corresponding upper tubular section 3. These parts, together with the compound keyv, which is detachablyconnected to the f lower end of the splint and provided with `elements 9, 9, to belengaged by a tool or other driving element to vturn the rods and thus lengthen or shorten the posts, may be the same as the corresponding elements illustrated in said Patent 1,196,887, and require no further discussion. Within the lower end of the splint is any usual or suitable ankle cushion ill adaptedfto be lsecured around the ankle oi the wearer. The ankle cushion is preferably in the form of a canvas shoe lined with lambs wool and containing air pockets so as to provide not only the cushioning effectof thewool but also of pneumatic cushions. Heretofore the ankle cushion has been connected to the foot plate by straps and, where divided traction has beensought, the foot plate has also been` connected, by means of straps and adhesive tape, to a point on the leg just below the fracture. With such an arrangement, there is no give to the pull vor traction and the doctor or operator applying the splint has no means of knowing how the pull is at any given time.

In accordance with the present invention, the connections with the ankle and the leg are not powerful i interposed spring means which are stressed as traction is applied. Consequently, the pull is always a yieldable one although it may be quite powerful. The spring means is preferably of such a character as to act to equalize the pull between the ankle and the leg just below the fracture.

When the splint is extended to produce traction, the force of the pull will be represented by the degree of stressing of the spring means. Therefore, the spring means may be made to serve as an indicator to show the force of the pull or traction at any given time.,

We have discovered that, while it is usually impossible to set a broken bone before the swelling has subsided, by simply immobilizing the leg in the splint and extending the splint the required amount, because of the great pain caused the patient: Yet, if a little traction is applied and then released, and then a little greater traction which, also, is released, and so on, the bone may be set quickly and easily, without causing the patient to suffer severe pain, and without waiting for the swelling to subside. By providing an indicator to show the degree of stressing of the spring means at al1 times, it becomes a simple matter alternately to apply and release a pull or traction which is gradually built up.

Ordinarily traction is secured by means of a little hand tool applied to one of the tool-receiving parts 9 of the compound key, but this is a slow way of contracting and extending the splint. Therefore, in order to render effective the method of setting a bone by alternate application and release of the pull which is gradually kbuilt up, it is necessary to provide power means to extend and contract the posts of the splint. To this end, as best shown in Fig. I, we have provided a small portable power plant consisting of an electric motor A, a reversing switch B, and a rheostat C. The motor drives a flexible shaft D on the free end of which is a head E, like the head of a wrench, which may be detachably tted over lone of the elements B on the compound key. Current for operating the motor may be obtained through a suitable cord F adapted to be plugged into any suitable light or wall socket. After the splint has been applied and the power plant connected, the motor is started and is allowed to run until the desired preliminary pull or traction is obtained, whereupon the motor will be reversed so as to release the pull or traction. The speed of extension of the splint may at all times be controlled by means of the rheostat, so that the pull, whether it be ultimately great or small, may be built up gradually or rapidly, as may be desired.

The springs for permitting yielding traction to be obtained and for equalizing the pull or traction may conveniently be housed in the lower sections 4 of the tubular posts. Since the screw rods must enter the upper smaller tubes 3 of the posts, they are, of course, smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the tubes 4;

, thus providing around each rod, within each tube 4, an annular space to receive and house a long compression spring II. There are four of these springs, one at each post. Each spring rests at its lower end on a short sleeve or bushing `I2 which in turn rests on an internal annular shoulder I3 in the post. Engaged with the upper end of each spring is a follower I4 in the form of a short sleeve overlying the spring. Each tube 4 has a slot I5 extending lengthwise thereof fromv the lower end to a considerable height. The followers I4 in the two tubes on the same side of the splint are connected together by a rod or shaft It which extends through the slots I5. These rods or shafts serve as stops to limit the upward movement of the followers, since the followers can move upwardly only until the rods or shafts come to a stop in the upper ends of the slots in the posts. The posts are s o proportioned that the springs are under an initial compression when they have expanded as far as the followers will permit. When the bars or shafts are pushed down toward the foot plate, further compression of the springs occurs, the force required to effect further compression increasing as the degree of compression of the springs increases. On each of the rods or shafts I6 are two loose, semi-cylindrical trough-like parts I'I tting against the posts and held against lateral movement away from the posts by shoulders I8 0n the rods or shafts. One of these trough-like members I'I may be utilized as the pointer of a graduated indicator adapted to show the degree of pull or traction at any given time. Thus,`as shown in Fig. 5, one of the posts 4 may be provided with a series of graduations I9 distributed lengthwise thereof just below the corresponding member l'I when the latter is in its raised po-l pointer member I'I is moved down to one of thek graduations, it will be known that the force of the pull in pounds is equal to the number associated with that graduation.

On each of the rods or shafts I6 is a roller 2i). Attached to the ankle cushion are two straps 2I, 2I, each attached at one end to the cushion. On the foot plate are pairs of rollers 122, 22, parallel with the rollers 20. The rollers 22 may conveniently surround the studs 23 which, as in Patent 1,196,887, hold the foot plate against separation from the lower ends of the posts.

In using the splint, each strap is carried down underneath one of the corresponding rollers 22, up over the roller 20 on the same side of the splint, diagonally back down under the other roller 22 of the pair and theny up on the inside of the splint; the free end of the strap being connected to the lower end of a broad piece of adhesive tape 25, which is attached to the leg just below the fracture. Each strap may have therein a buckle 24. The straps may be secured to the ankle cushion in any suitable manner. When the splint is extended, traction on the leg results from the downward pull of the rollers 22 on the loops in the straps 2| engaged therewith. As the leg offers resistance to stretching, the springs are compressed until a point is reached at which the resistance of the leg is overcome and lit begins to stretch. Thus there is always the offsetting of the resistance offered by the leg against the force of the spring, the pull on the leg being therefore always a yieldable one and being built up gradually instead of being suddenly imposed thereon. Furthermore, the divided pull on the leg is equalized between the ankle and the point higher on the leg so that traction is not only yieldable and steady but is also even;

It should be noted that not only does our improved spring equalizing device make it a simple while informing the surgeon at all times just how f strong a pull is being exerted; but, when a patient is walking about, andhis hip and leg move up and down in the splint due tothe yieldable nature of the hip cushions or padsand of the muscular and fatty tissue of the patient resting on that cushion or pad, the spring equalizing device keeps on pulling and compensates for the up or down movement of the leg and. hip. As a result effective traction and counter-traction are maintained during walking and the patient need not fear that the pull will be released andthe meeting ends of the bones slip past eachk other or, as an alternative, that constant watch must be kept in order to ensure against the latter happening. Not only is there safety in walking, but there is just enough irritation of the knitting joint to cause a better joint to result than would be'the case if it had not been exercised.

It frequently is necessary to employ a hip joint attachment, as explained in said Patent 1,196,887. One of the features of the present invention has to do with the means for securing such an attachment to the splint. In the arrangement shown, as will best be seen in Figs. 3 and ll, there are two double-ended sockets 2l, 2 secured to the metal foundation 33 of the seat pad or cushion, the axes of the sockets being vertical. The upper ends of the members 3 of two of the posts, containing plugs as indicated at 23, are entered intov the lower ends of these sockets. Consequently, the seat cushion or pad may be detached by simply separating the posts from the sockets. rThe hip joint attachment 33 has two stem-like supports 3| the lower ends of which may be slipped into the upper ends of the sockets when the attachment is to be applied to the splint. A very simple way of securing the ends of the posts 3 and the members 3l in the sockets is to provide each socket with two keyhole slots 32 opening out of the ends thereof. Then by screwing a headed screw 33 radially into each post and each stem 3| at the proper distance from the end, slip joints are provided while the screws project far enough for their heads to clear the outer surfaces of the sockets; and, when the parts are assembled, and the screws are screwed in until the heads thereof rest in the large ends of the keyhole slots, the posts and the stems are securely locked together. In Fig. l we have illustrated the usual thigh and leg cushions 35 and 33, respectively; these cushions being secured to suitable slides each extending between and adjustably secured to two of the tubes 3. As best shown in Fig. 6, each slide is composed of two long, narrow sti plates 31 and 38 each having concave seats 39, 39 on the inner side near opposite ends. A bolt 40 passes through the middle of the plates. When a pair of the plates is placed on opposite sides of two of the tubes 3, with the tubes engaged in the concave seats, and the nut 4l on the bolt is tightened, the tubes are clamped tightly between the plates which are then immovable on the tubes. The thigh and leg cushions 35 and 36 have therein slits l2 through which the nuts 4l may be inserted. The nuts l are made fairly long so as to constitute short bars which span the slits and clamp the cushions to the slides; the tightening of one of the nuts securing a cushion to the corresponding slide and simultaneously clamping the slide to the tubular members of the splint.

While we have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come Within vthe definitions of the invention constituting the appended claims.

-v We claim:

l. The vvcombination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type having at its upper end a seat pad and at its lower end an ankle cushion adapted to surround the ankle of the wearenof a flexible element connected at one end to said ankle cushion and adapted tc be connected at its other end to the leg below the fracture, and means including a spring device slidably connecting the said flexible element to the lower end of the splint; whereby yieldable traction and counter-traction are secured when the splint is extended.

2. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type having at its upper end a seat pad and at its lower end an ankle cushion adapted to surround the ankle of the wearer, members on the lowel` end of the splint at some Idistance apart in the direction of the length of the splint and one of them movable lengthwise of the splint, a compression spring between said members, a strap looped about said members and in sliding engagement therewith so that a pull on the ends of the strap will cause said spring to be compressed, one end of the strap being attached to said ankle cushion and the other end being adapted to be attached to the leg of the wearer of the splint below the fracture. i

3. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type adapted to secure traction and counter-traction on the leg of a wearer and having four tubular posts formed in sections in telescoped relation to each other, means to extend and shorten said parts, of springs in the lower portions of the posts, followers resting on the springs, the two followers on each of two opposite sides ofthe splint being connected together by a rod, the posts being slotted to permit said rods to be moved up and down, two stationary rods on the lower ends of the splint parallel to the aforesaid rods, and two straps each adapted to be looped around the Inovable rod and the corresponding stationary rod on one side of the splint and be secured at its ends to two points on the leg of the wearer separated from each other lengthwise of the leg.

4. In a splint, a seat pad, a foot plate, posts rising from the foot plate into the vicinity of the seat pad, double-ended sockets mounted on the seat pad with the axes of their openings arranged vertically, the upper ends of certain of the posts fitting into the lower ends of said sockets, a hip joint attachment having supporting stems each adapted to be fitted into the upper end of one of said sockets.

. 5. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type to secure traction and counter-traction on the leg of the wearer, of a flexible device looped under a part on the lower end of the splint and in sliding engagement therewith, an ankle embracing cushion connected to one end of said flexible device, and the other end of said flexible device being adapted to be attached to the leg of the wearer of the splint below the fracture, whereby the pull on the leg, upon extension of the splint, will be equalized between the ankle cushion and the higher point of attachment of said flexible devce with the leg.

6. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type having at its upper equalize the pull at the two ends of said device when the splint is extended.

'7. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type having yat its upper end a seat pad and at its lower end an ankle cushion adapted to surround the ankle of the wearer, of a flexible device connected at one end.

to the ankle cushion and adapted to be attached to the leg of the wearer at a point above the angle and below the fracture, and means including a spring yieldingly connecting said flexible device to the lower end o1" the splint, said means having a sliding connection with said flexible device below the point of attachment of the latter with the ankle cushion, whereby the pull on the leg or^ the wearer of the splint when the split is extended is yieldable and is equalized between the opposite ends of said flexible device.

8. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type having at its upper end a seat pad, and an ankle cushion adapted to be inserted in the lower end of the splint, oi a long flexible element connected at one end to said cushion and adapted to be connected at its other end to the leg below a fracture therein, and means including a part lof the splint below said cushion over which said flexible element passes to produce a sliding connection between said flexible device and said splint and thereby and on the leg at said point below the fracture will be equalized when the splint is extended.

l0. The combination with a leg splint of the lengthwise extensible type having at its upper end a seat pad, together with an ankle cushion adapted to be inserted in the lower end of the splint, oi a ixed cross bar at the lower end of the splint below the'position adapted tobe occupied by theankle cushion, of a second cross bar mounted on the splint above vlthe ankle cushion position and slidably mountedso as to be movable from andtoward the other cross bar,

a compression spring carried by the splint and tending constantly to move the second cross bar upward and away from the lirst cross bar; and a iiexible element connected at one end to said ankle cushion, and adapted to be carried underneath the first cross bar, up over the topof the second cross bar, down under the first cross bar, and then up and'attachedto the leg below the fracture, whereby yieldable, equalized traction and counter-traction are secured when the splint is extended.

FRANKLIN I. SAEMANN.

FRANKLIN I. SAEMANN, J R. v

ROBERT GENNAT. 

